The debut was well above analysts' projections, which hovered around $30 million. But Johansson, whose recent roles have included the superhero Black Widow in the Avengers franchise and a disembodied voice in last year's Her, managed to "up her career once again," says David Mumpower, analyst for Box Office Prophets.

Mumpower says that "Lucy cleverly capitalizes on Johansson's ascent by placing her in the lead of a movie that takes the best elements of Limitless and The Matrix, and develops them into a unique action property."